It’s been twenty years since these 2 iconic German sports cars grappled for superiority. The year was 1999 and inevitably proved to be an undesirable year for both of the legacy autos. Porsche had simply released the initial water-cooled 911, to the frustration of 911 perfectionists. Adding insult to injury, the brand-new bodywork and interior cabin design was met with resistance and even now is considered the least eye-catching Porsche 911. BMW was having their very own concerns, despite stuffing a V-12 under the hood the BMW 850i wasn’t particularly fast, nimble or economical. Poor power paired with slow sales forced BMW to kill the 850i. So, twenty years later we have an additional brand-new 911 and a brand-new 8-series. As ‘noted philosopher’ Jesse ‘The Body’ Ventura once stated, Learn from history or you’re doomed to repeat it. Let’s begin this comparison and see specifically what the automakers found out over the past twenty years. So who is the champion in the battle between the 2019 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 vs BMW M850i xDrive?
Twenty years earlier, these competing vehicles couldn’t be more different, the BMW was a deluxe cruiser & the Porsche was a corner carving monster. There is a bit of familiarity with today’s versions of these automobiles, Porsche is still the lighter automobile that can carve up corners. The BMW is still the much heavier, luxury cruiser but it starts with more than 100 horsepower than the 911. The 911 comes with a 7-speed manual gearbox, the m850i is fitted with an 8-speed automatic that can be driven like a manual transmission. The BWM beats the Porsche in engine size, horse power, and torque, but is virtually 1,400 lbs more. That suggests the BMW is carrying around a full-size cow’s worth of extra weight. Despite having all the added power, the M850i xDrive can’t keep up with the 911 in straight line acceleration. The BMW is a well-rounded excellent cruiser but the 911 will certainly eat its lunch in the corners. The 911 slips by the BMW in performance.
Both cars are aesthetically appealing in their own, specific way. The BMW is angular, modern and looks prepared to strike. The Porsche has sweeping lines and looks much more sophisticated when contrasted to the 8-series. The BMW doesn’t have the same renowned feel of its historical brethren. While the 911 is an evolved layout that hasn’t drastically changed since the 60’s yet the brand-new back end is a show stopper. It looks futuristic and retro at the same time, and it’s stunning.
While Porsche made a commitment to mimic the cockpit of days past– and it functions, perfectly– BMW has no such restrictions. The Live Cockpit Professional and optional HUD in the M850i is truly a treasure of driver’s information. The optional Glass Controls oozes sophistication with hand-made, diamond-cut glass trim decorating the drive selector, volume control and various other buttons. The BMW’s drive shifter particularly looks excellent when compared to the Porsche. The tiny drive selector in the 911 seems misplaced in an otherwise wonderful interior cabin. As far as the back seats go, unless your name is Dorothy and you have some munchkin buddies they are best left for fast journeys to dinner or as an area to put a suitcase.
This should be the area where the BMW gains ground in the comparison since the Bimmer is packed with tech. A system called ‘Live Cockpit Professional’ features a totally digital gauge cluster and information center. When included with the Heads-Up display it maximizes the details required by today’s driver. The 911 has a similar configuration yet in such a way that is uniquely Porsche. The electronic gauges mimic the cluster of past 911s but if you look very closely, you will certainly see an analog tachometer in the center. A mix of old and new, thy name is 911.
It’s clear that both Porsche and BMW did their research when it concerned making their all-new 911 and M850i. The 8-series– formerly the company’s utmost but problematic vehicle– now has some bite to match its bark. It is not a corner carving beast like the Porsche, but the new M850i is a worthwhile replacement to the flagship car from the 1990’s. If the reports are to be believed, BMW will be producing a pure performance variation most likely to be called the M8. If that car is constructed, BMW might ultimately have an automobile to defeat the age-old 911. Till then, the seamless incorporation of fond memories and technology makes the Porsche unbeatable. The 911 Carrera 4 beats the M850i xDrive.
Contact Porsche El Paso online, in-person, or give us a call to schedule a Porsche 911 Carrera 4 test drive.
2019 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 | Porsche El Paso
You don't have any saved vehicles!
Look for this link on your favorites:
Once you've saved some vehicles, you can view them here at any time.
915-745-5300
Call Now6421 S Desert Blvd • El Paso, TX 79932
Get DirectionsOpen Today! Sales: 9am-6pm
Open Today! Service: 8am-5pm
Open Today! Parts: 8am-5pm